News [ Christopherson Travel Group ]

Short-term, wartime Airline policy changes for the following airlines:

Air Canada
American Airlines
British Airways
Continental Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Luftansa
Northwest
US Airways
United

Air Canada Implements Flexible Rebooking Policy Effective Immediately

March 19, 2003 Effective immediately, Air Canada has implemented a policy providing customers holding discounted tickets greater flexibility to make changes to future travel dates. The policy has been implemented in recognition of increasing customer uncertainty regarding travel in view of impending military conflict with Iraq and applies to travel on Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz, Tango and Air Canada codeshare flights operated by ZIP and Star Alliance partners as well as Aeroplan reward travel.

Effective immediately, customers holding discounted tickets for travel to/from the United States or international destinations during the next 30 days may change their travel dates without penalty, with all travel completed by December 31, 2003.

Also effective immediately, customers who have commenced travel to the United States or international destinations on discounted tickets and now wish to return earlier than planned to Canada or their point of origin may also re- book their travel at no penalty.

Regular travel restrictions on discounted tickets continue to apply for
travel within Canada.

To be eligible, customers who choose to postpone their travel need to contact Air Canada Reservations at 1-888-247-2262 or their travel agent prior to their originally scheduled departure date. Future reservations are subject to availability and applicable fare rules.

Read the entire policy here.

American Airline's Comfort Level Traveler Policy

Updated: March 19, 2003 - American Airlines has moved up implementation of its Comfort Level Policy announced on March 7, giving customers the ability to immediately change their domestic and international travel plans without the standard change fees.
The policy was to go into effect in the event of a military action or a Homeland Security-issued Level Red Alert. While the United States is not at war and has not gone to a Level Red Alert, AA felt it was appropriate to implement this policy now.
American's Comfort Level Policy offers flexibility to all customers, including those with U.S. domestic and international tickets, by allowing them to make a one-time change to their travel plans without paying the standard change fee. This policy applies to tickets purchased any time through April 19 for travel through May 18. To take advantage of this policy, customers must make the change by April 19 and no later than their originally scheduled date of travel. Travel may be rescheduled for any date through Dec. 31, 2003. The policy also applies to travel on American Eagle and AmericanConnection. The policy also applies to passengers who started travel prior to March 19 and wish to change their return.

American will make appropriate changes as necessary to its policies. Such changes could be immediate if there is no military conflict. American also announced on March 7 a policy that tickets purchased between March 7 and March 31for international travel (except between Canada and the United States) through Dec. 31, could be changed. That policy, which was not contingent upon a military action or Level Red Alert, still applies. American will allow customers who purchase tickets between those dates for travel through December 31, 2003, to change their itinerary one time without paying the standard change fee. Tickets must be changed by May 31, 2003, or by the originally scheduled travel date, whichever is earlier. Travel may be rescheduled for any date through December 31, 2003, and all reticketed travel must be completed by that date. Under both policies, customers changing tickets will be subject to any fare difference resulting from travel during a higher cost travel period or day of week, upgraded booking class or cabin, and/or increased passenger facility charges and/or tax increases. Original ticket price will be credited against the rescheduled ticket price. Non-refundable travel vouchers will be given when the change results in a lower ticket price. Rescheduled travel must adhere to any applicable advance purchase and minimum/maximum stay requirements. Applicable change fees will be waived if all conditions of the fare rules are met. All changes are subject to availability. Any passenger who no-shows for a flight will not be eligible to re-book or have the original ticket reissued under these policies.

Read the entire policy here.

British Airways 'Travel When You Are Ready' Policy

March 19, 2003 British Airways is introducing a 'Travel When You Are Ready' policy for new bookings sold and ticketed between March 12th and March 31, 2003.
This policy applies to through-ticketed journeys purchased in North America for transatlantic travel from North America to any British Airways online destination around the world.
British Airways will allow 1 change, free of charge, into the same class of service as originally booked. The original minimum and maximum stay rules apply but all travel must be completed by December 31, 2003.
All changes to a booking must be at least 72 hours prior to the outbound departure date.
Once the changes have been made, the passenger can retain their tickets for use on their rebooked journey with British Airways.

Read the entire policy here.

Continental Airlines Adds Additional Near-Term Flexibility to Fare Rules

March 19, 2003 Continental Airlines today implemented a new policy allowing customers to immediately change their domestic and international travel plans without the standard change fee.
The new Flexible Travel Policy, announced on March 10, was to go into effect in the event of military action against Iraq or the issuance of a "Level Red" advisory by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. While the United States is not at war and has not gone to a Level Red Alert, Continental felt it was appropriate to implement this policy now.
Continental customers who have purchased tickets for U.S. domestic and international travel through May 18 may make a one-time change to their travel plans without paying the standard change fee. To take advantage of the new policy, customers must make the change by the earlier of April 19 or their originally scheduled date of travel. Travel may be rescheduled for any date through Dec. 31, 2003. The policy applies to travel on Continental, Continental Express, Continental Connection, Continental Micronesia and codeshare flights operated by Virgin Atlantic. It also applies to passengers who started travel prior to March 19 and wish to change their return. These policies are subject to change, with or without notice.
Separately, Continental announced that customers who purchased tickets between March 5 and March 31 for international travel (except between Canada and the United States, between the United States and Guam, Saipan, Micronesia, Palau and Marshall Islands and within Guam, Saipan, Micronesia, Palau, Marshall Islands) through Dec. 31, may change their itinerary one time without paying the standard change fee. Tickets must be changed by May 31, 2003, or by the originally scheduled travel date, whichever is earlier. Travel may be rescheduled for any date through Dec. 31, 2003, and all re-ticketed travel must be completed by that date.
Under both policies, customers changing tickets will be subject to any fare difference resulting from travel during a higher cost travel.

Read the entire policy here.

Lufthansa Goodwill Regulations

March 18, 2003 As of today, extended goodwill regulations will apply for Lufthansa passengers. These allow holders of tickets with limiting conditions to alter or cancel their bookings. The special provision is valid for Lufthansa flights to and from the USA and Canada, to and from the Near and Middle East, as well as to and from Israel and Turkey and is initially restricted to a period of two months.
If the customer wishes to rebook or reroute his journey, in the case of journeys not yet started he will not be charged with the rebooking fee or the fee for the issue of a new ticket. In the event of the issue of a new ticket, the full price of the original ticket will be set off against the new one. If the new ticket is more expensive, the customer will only pay the difference; if the new ticket is less expensive, he will receive a credit note which can be redeemed against the purchase of a new flight ticket.
In the case of journeys already started, the ticket can be rebooked once free of charge. The rebooking can be effected up to 24 hours prior to the originally planned departure.
In the case of the cancellation of the entire journey with a ticket that cannot normally be cancelled, the customer will receive a credit note which can be redeemed against the purchase of a new Lufthansa flight ticket. A cash refund is not possible.

Read the entire policy here.

Northwest Updates Flexible Ticketing Policy

March 19, 2003 Due to concerns regarding potential conflict in the Middle East, Northwest and KLM are making special provisions for passengers to change their travel plans in the event of military action.
Change Policy
The relaxed change policy will take effect in the event of a military action and applies to Northwest tickets purchased on or before the commencement of miltary action. For both domestic and international itineraries, one fee-waived change will be allowed per ticket. Passengers must re-qualify for the new itinerary, with an additional collection for any difference in fare.
North America
Passengers with travel plans within North America that originate within 60 days of the date of the initial military action may change their travel through December 15, 2003 without penalty. This policy applies for travel within North America and the Caribbean.
Ticketed passengers must advise Northwest/KLM of their intent to change their ticket prior to their originally scheduled flight or within 30 days of military action commencing, whichever comes first. The new domestic flights must be re-booked and re-issued within 30 days of the initial military action. All travel must be completed by December 15, 2003.
Trans-Pacific and Trans-Atlantic Travel Passengers with international travel plans within 90 days of the date of the initial military action may change their travel through December 15, 2003 without penalty. This policy applies to tickets for travel across the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans or within Asia.
International ticketed passengers must advise Northwest/KLM of their intent to change their ticket prior to their originally scheduled flight or within 30 days of military action commencing, whichever comes first. The new international flights must be re-booked and re-issued within 30 days of the initial military action. All travel must be completed by December 15, 2003.

Read the entire policy here.

US Airways Updated "Peace of Mind" Flexible Travel Policy

March 19, 2003 US Airways announced today that it has implemented the 90-day "Peace of Mind" flexible travel period, effective tomorrow.

The "Peace of Mind" flexible travel policy, which is being implemented due to the conflict in Iraq, allows customers to make changes to itineraries for travel originating March 19 through June 17, 2003, without incurring standard change fees. Travel within the U.S. or between the U.S. and Canada may be rescheduled to originate on or before June 17, 2003. Customers scheduled to fly to or from Europe, the Caribbean (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and Mexico during the 90-day flexible travel period may reschedule travel to originate on or before Dec. 15, 2003. Among the allowed itinerary changes are:
Full value of wholly unused tickets can be applied to future travel
Dates of travel can be changed
Destination city can be changed
Itinerary changes can be made for those customers whose trip has not been completed
The "Peace of Mind" flexible travel policy applies to all US Airways itineraries that include travel March 19 through June 17, 2003. The policy applies to tickets purchased, and award tickets issued, on or before April 2, 2003. Itinerary changes must be made prior to the scheduled departure or before April 2, 2003. All rules and restrictions of the fare purchased will apply, and customers are responsible for any difference in fare. US Airways could extend the change and flexible travel periods, and would communicate those dates publicly.

Read the entire policy here.

United Updates Traveler Confidence Policy

March 18, 2003 - In an effort to best meet our customer needs, United Airlines today announced further details to its policies for customers who wish to change their travel plans due to the potential start of military conflict with Iraq. Effective immediately, these policies provide United customers with greater flexibility to modify their travel plans without customary change fees.
Revised travel policies and qualifying dates:
Customers with tickets issued on or before March 31, with travel dates on or before May 18, 2003, may postpone their travel to be completed by December 31, 2003 without penalty.
For customers who choose to postpone travel and reschedule for a future flight, the full value of the unused ticket will be applied toward the purchase of the new ticket with no re-ticketing fee. If the new fare is lower than the original fare and the original ticket was non-refundable, United will issue the customer a travel voucher for the difference. If the fare is higher, the customer will be required to pay the difference in fares.
To be eligible for this offer, originating travel must fall within the qualifying travel dates and to postpone travel, customers will need to contact United or their travel professional prior to their originally scheduled departure or April 19, 2003, whichever comes first. One change per ticket will be allowed under this waiver.
Conditions for the postponed/rebooked itinerary are mandated by the rules of the new fare.
For customers enroute, United will waive the change/cancellation fee one-time to allow flexibility for customers who want to change their travel plans. The rebooked travel must occur by May 18, 2003.

Read the entire policy here.